Foldable support for calendar pads



Oct. 12, 1965 E. NICHOL 3,211,412

FOLDABLE SUPPORT FOR CALENDAR PADS Filed April 15, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1MN I INVENTOR.

X ,0 F l 3 GORDON E. NICHOLS W MQZ Q r-v N /'2 Y lo M FIG. 3 ATTORNEYSOct. 12, 1965 G. E. NICHOLS 3,211,412

FOLDABLE SUPPORT FOR CALENDAR PADS Filed April 15, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2F 1 cs. 3b l= IO 12 |l I 29/ [I3 I20 INVENTOR.

GORDON E. NICHOLS BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,211,412 FOLDABLESUPPORT FOR CALENDAR PADS Gordon E. Nichols, Middleboro, Mass., assignorto Winthrop-Atkins Co. Inc., Middleboro, Mass., at corporation ofMassachusetts Filed Apr. 15, 1964, Ser. No. 359,981 18 Claims. (Cl.248-465) This invention pertains to foldable supports of the kinddisclosed in my copending applications Serial No. 304,009, filed August23, 1963, Serial No. 304,010, filed August 23, 1963, and Patent No.3,150,777, dated September 29, 1964 and in particular, supportsconsisting, in major part at least, of stiff sheet material, for examplecardboard, and designed to sustain an article, for example, a calendarpad, photograph, mirror, book, or the like, in an inclined position forconvenient observation by a person seated at a table or desk. Supportsof this kind are desirably capable of being folded to approximately flatcondition to facilitate packaging for shipment or for ready storage, butwhen set up for use are expected to remain in that position withoutcollapsing and while supporting an article mounted thereon or leaningthereagainst. For maintaining such foldable supports in erectedposition, many expedients have previously been suggested, most often,the provision of parts which must be manipulated by the user whensetting the support up for use, for example, tabs of sheet material,integral or not with the support itself, designed to be bent to angularrelation to other parts or for insertion in slits provided in some ofthe parts and, when once so bent or inserted, acting to prevent collapseof the device, but which must be disengaged manually, in order to permitthe support to be folded.

The present invention has for an object the provision of a collapsiblesupport of the above type of a very simple design such that it is easyand relatively cheap to manufacture and which relies upon the use ofcrossed rigid parts to prevent collapse of the device when once set up,and which, in the mere operation of setting it up, becomes stable sothat it will not collapse under load, although no fastening devices needbe employed. A further object is to provide a foldable support of theabove type which, prior to use, is substantially flat. A further objectis to provide a foldable support which may be set up in different ways,for example in order that the article, for instance a calendar pad, maybe supported at different selected angles for observation. A furtherobject is to provide a device of the above type which may be restored toits initial flat condition without removal of retaining elements andwhich may be made with substantially no waste of material.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will bepointed out in the following more detailed description and by referenceto the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a support, according to one desirableembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the support of FIG. 1, showing acalendar pad mounted thereon;

FIG. 3 is an edge view of the support of FIG. 1, showing it in collapsedor flat condition, that is, before being set up for use;

FIG. 3a is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the support ascollapsed in a different manner;

FIG. 3b is a large scale, fragmentary vertical section, illustratingmaterial useful in making the support;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the rear side of the support of FIG. 1before it is set up for use;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a blank useful in preparing the support of FIG.1;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the support of FIG. 1, set up in adifferent way such as to afford very substantial frictional resistanceto slippage of the support when resting upon a table or desk;

FIG. 7 is a view showing the device of FIG. 1, set up for use in such away that the calendar pad or the like, which is supported by the device,is more nearly vertical;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing a slight modification;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation showing another embodiment of the invention,set up for use;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of the device of FIG. 9, but showing it setup in another way;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation of the device of FIG. 9, but set up in stillanother way;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a blank useful in the manufacture of thedevice of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is an edge view of the device of FIG. 9, folded in one manner asit may appear before it is set up for use; and

FIG. 13a is a view similar to FIG. 13, but showing the support as foldedin a different manner.

The support, in accordance with the present invention, comprises aplurality of relatively movable parts of substantially rigid sheetmaterial, for example cardboard, and all of the several parts may, ifdesired, be integrally united as by making them from a single sheet ofmaterial. Herein, for ease in identification, one of these parts isreferred to as a panel and in most instances constitutes the member towhich the pad or other article to be supported is attached or againstwhich the article leans; another of these parts for convenience inidentification is referred to as a plate; while another, if such part becomprised in the support, is referred to as a leaf, but these severalparts, in accordance with the way in which the support may be set up foruse, may perform different functions; for example the part referred toas the-plate may, under certain circumstances, act as a broad horizontalbase member or, alternatively, as an upstanding leg. When the support isset up for use, two or more of these parts, in accordance with theparticular embodiment, are connected by means such as to define hingeaxes about which the united parts may be swung, relatively, in settingup the device for use, and the connecting means comprises at least onestrut and at least one brace which, when the device is not in use, maylie in the same plane, each brace and each strut being hingedlyconnected at its opposite ends, respectively, to two, respectively, ofsaid constituent parts, the hinge axes at the ends of the brace andstrut being parallel but those at the opposite ends of the brace beingoffset, in the same direction, from those at the corresponding ends ofthe strut whereby, when the device is set up for use, the brace andstrut lie in planes which intersect. Thus, without other retainingmeans, the support will maintain its operative position indefinitelywhile sustaining an applied load. In thus referring to certain elementsas struts and braces, these different terms are used merely forconvenience in identification since these elements are in allsubstantial particulars identical in construction and function, each, ashere shown, being a substantially rectangular piece of stilf sheetmaterial, for example identical with that constituting the parts abovereferred to as panel, plate and leaf respectively, and each beingcapable of resising tensile or compressive stress in its own plane.

Referring to the drawings (FIG. 1), the support, as there shown,comprises an article-supporting panel which, when the device is set upand in use, is inclined to the vertical, providing a face against whichan article, for example, a picture or mirror, may lean or to which acalendar pad C, for example, may be secured. For holding the panel inits operative position, there is provided a plate 11 which, when thedevice is set up as shown in FIG. 1, is approximately perpendicular toand contacts the panel 10 and constitutes a supporting leg for thepanel. The plate 11 is connected to the panel 10 by one or more struts12 and braces 13. In a preferred construction, a single brace isarranged between two like struts.

When the support is set up for use, the struts and brace are disposed,respectively, in planes which intersect so that, as seen in FIG. 1, thestruts 12 incline downwardly from the plate 11 toward the panel 10 whilethe brace 13 inclines upwardly from the plate toward the panel. Thestruts 12 are connected by hinge elements at 12a and 12b with the plateand panel respectively, while the brace 13 is connected by hingeelements 13a and 13b respectively, to the plate and panel. In thearrangement shown in FIG. 1, the hinge element 12a is at a higherelevation than the hinge element 13a, while the hinge element 12b is ata lower elevation than the hinge element 1312. In a preferredarrangement, the struts and brace are of approximately the same lengthbetween their hinged ends. In setting the support up for use from thecollapsed condition of FIG. 3, it is merely necessary to swing the freeedges X and Y respectively, of the panel and plate, upwardly from theposition of FIG. 3 until the edge Y of the plate contacts the rear faceof the panel. The support may now be placed with the edges M and N (FIG.3) resting upon a horizontal surface and the device is ready for use.Likewise, when the support is collapsed as shown in FIG. 3a, it may beset up by grasping the reinforced portions M and N and swinging themtoward each other until the edge Y contacts the panel.

With this arrangement, wherein the struts and braces constitute the onlyconnections between the panel 10 and plate 11 and wherein the hingeconnections between the struts and braces and the panel and platerespectively, are at different elevations, so that the struts and bracesare disposed in intersecting planes when the device is set up for use,pressure applied to the panel, for example as the result of placing aload upon the panel, is resisted by the action of the struts and braces.For instance, if an applied force tends to cause the upper edge of thepart 11 to slide upwardly, relatively to the panel, the strut 12 isplaced under tension thus resisting such movement while, alternatively,if there be any force tending to cause the upper edge of the plate 11 tomove downwardly, the brace 13 will be tensioned to resist such motion.Thus, the parts will remain in the position shown in FIG. 1 indefinitelyand without the aid of fastener devices of any kind until the support ispurposely collapsed. Since the upper or free edge of the plate 11contacts the rear face of the panel 10 with some pressure, resultantfrom the downward force exerted by the panel (although said edge iseasily separable from the panel), the support, as thus set up, may beemployed as a rack for holding a stiff card or the like in a generallyupright position by inserting the card between the upper edge of theplate and the rear surface of the panel, so that the lower edge of thecard rests on the brace 13 while its upper part is gripped between theedge of the plate and the panel.

When it is desired to collapse the device, it may be picked up from thesurface upon which it has been standing and the plate 11 and panel 10may be swung outwardly away from each other until the plate 11 lies inthe same plane as the panel 10, as shown in FIG. 3, while the struts andbrace lie in a plane parallel thereto, the parts then occupying therelative positions illustrated in FIG. 3. Alternatively, the free edgesof the plate may be moved downwardly, in contact with the rear face ofthe panel, until the parts are in the position shown in FIG. 3a.

As may be seen in FIG. 4, a single brace member 13 is interposed betweenthe transversely spaced struts 12, and the axis of the hinge device 13awhich connects the brace 13 to the plate 11 is further from the freeedge N of the plate than are the hinge devices 12a which connect thestruts 12 to the plate. In the same way, the hinge line 13b of the brace13 is nearer to the free edge M of the panel 10 than are the hingedevices 12b which connect the struts 12 to the panel. Stated in otherwords, the hinges at 13b and 13a respectively (FIG. 4), which connectthe opposite ends of the brace 13 to the panel and plate respectively,are offset to the left, toward the edge M (that is, in the samedirection) from the hinges 12b and 12a which connect the opposite endsof the strut 12 to the panel and plate. In other words, a lineconnecting the score lines 12b (FIG. 4) would be to the right of scoreline 13b, while a line connecting the score lines 12a would be to theright of the score line 13a. While as herein disclosed the supportcomprises but a single brace interposed between two struts, it isobvious that if the device is intended to support an article ofsubstantial width, for example a width placard, the number of struts andbraces may be increased, all within the scope of the invention; forexample two braces, each interposed between two struts might be used, oreven a greater number but desirably having one more strut than brace,merely for symmetry.

As shown, for example, in FIG. 1, the plate 11 comprises a reinforcingply 11a extending along its lower margin, this ply being, for example,of the same material as the plate and being permanently secured againstthe plate proper by adhesive, staples or the like. It is to thisreinforcing ply that the struts 12 and brace 13 are hinged at 12a and13a respectively. In the same way, the panel 10 comprises a reinforcingply 10a at its lower margin permanently secured against the panelproper, and it is to this reinforcing ply that the struts 12 and brace13 are hinged at 12b and 13b respectively. As hereafter noted, thereinforcing plies 10a and 11a may be integrally joined to the panel 10and plate 11 along the lower edges M and N (FIG. 1) and folded tocontact the panel and plate and then secured permanently in this foldedposrtion.

In accordance with a preferred construction, the support of the presentinvention is made from a single blank B (FIG. 5), comprising a core R ofcardboard (FIG. 3b) of a character selected, in particular, withreference to its stiffness and weight. The cardboard core R is desrrablycovered on one or both faces with flexible material P such, for exampleas paper or thin cloth, of appropriate color which may be adhered to thecardboard before the latter is cut to shape, or it may be applied to thecardboard after the latter has been cut to the desired dimensions, sothat the cloth or paper may be overlapped about the edges of thecardboard to form a pleasing finish. This blank B may be scored orincised to define fold lines 21 and 22 along which the right and leftportions of the blank may be folded relatively to the central portion.Adjacent to these fold lines 21 and 22,

the blank has areas 23 and 24, designated by shading, to which adhesiveis applied so that when the blank is folded about the fold lines 21 and22, the adhesivelycoated areas will adhere to the adjacent areas x and11x respectively to form the reinforce plies 10a and 11a for the lowermarginal portions of the panel 10 and plate 11. Longitudinally extendingincisions 25 and 26 (FIG. 5) separate the brace 13 from the laterallyarranged struts 12. Score lines are also formed to define the hinges 12aand 12b at which the struts 12 are connected to the reinforce plies ofthe plate and panel respectively. In the same way, score lines areprovided which define the location of the hinges 13a and 13b whichconnect the brace to the reinforce plies of the plate and panelrespectively.

As is customary in articles of this general type, the hinges may consistmerely of one or more plies of the flexible material P (FIG. 3b), forexample cloth or paper, which covers the cardboard core R.

An alternative position in which the device of FIG. 1 may be set up foruse is illustrated in FIG. 6, but in this instance the member 11,heretofore referred to as the plate, is now horizontal, constituting abase, while the struts 12 are nearly vertical and the brace 13 inclinesupwardly and forwardly at a steep angle. The inclination of the panel 10to the horizontal is approximately the same as that shown in FIG. 1, butin this instance the plate 11 provides an extended surface for contactwith the table or desk upon which the device rests, which may be ofadvantage if the surface of such a table or desk be highly polished andslippery, since the larger area of contact afforded by the member 11helps to prevent undesired slipping of the device relatively to thetable on which it stands.

In FIG. 7 the device of FIG. 1 is shown as set up in such a way that thepanel 10 is horizontal while the plate 11 is at a steep angle to thehorizontal, the struts 12 and the brace 13 being steeply inclined,although in intersecting planes as in the device of FIG. 1. With thisarrangement, the position of the plate 11 is such that a calendar pad Cattached thereto is more nearly vertical than when the device is set upas shown in FIG. 1, which may be of advantage under certain conditions.In this arrangement, the brace and struts support the plate 11 in theset-up condition so that no other fastening means is required to preventthe device from collapsing in response to downward pressure applied tothe plate.

As above described, in particular with reference to the arrangementshown in FIG. 1, the brace member 13 inclines upwardly and forwardlywhile the struts 12 incline downwardly and forwardly, but by a slightand readily made change in the relative locations of the hinges whichconnect the struts and brace to the leg and panel, an arrangement suchas that of FIG. 8 may be made, wherein the struts 12k incline upwardlyand forwardly while the brace member 13k inclines downwardly andforwardly. As shown in FIG. 8, the angle of inclination of the panel 10to the horizontal is substantially the same as in the device shown inFIG. 1. Obviously, by a change in the relative lengths of the struts andbrace, this angle could be changed in accordance with the intendedpurpose of the support.

In FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, a modified construction is illustrated which maybe 'set up in different ways for supporting the calendar pad orequivalent device. In this device, as shown in FIG. 9, the panel 40 isinclined to the horizontal at a relatively low inclination, for exampleapproximately 30, and the member 41, corresponding to the plate 11 ofthe previous embodiment, is shown as parallel to and contacting thepanel 40 at the upper part of the latter. In this device, the struts 42and the brace 43, while hingedly connected to the plate 41, in the sameway as the struts 12 and brace 13 of the previous embodiment, have theirother ends hingedly connected to a member 50, consisting of stiff sheetmaterial, for example such as is used in 6 making the panel, and whichis herein referred to for identification as a leaf, which, in turn, ishingedly secured at 61 to a part 52 constituting the reinforcing ply forthe lower edge 14x of the panel 40. When this device is set up as shownin FIG. 9, the panel is inclined at about 30 to the horizontal.

The device of FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 is thus somewhat more complicated inconstruction than that of FIG. 1, although like the device of FIG. 1 itmay readily be made from a single unitary blank B such, for example, asis illustrated in FIG. 12. This blank may be of stiff cardboard, such asabove described, covered on one or both sides with a flexible materialsuch as paper and is so scored or incised as to define the various partof the support. Thus, a transverse score line at 60 defines that edge ofthe panel 40, said edge being indicated by the character 14x (FIG. 9),the area of the blank which will constitute the panel being shown at40t. A second score line 61, parallel to the line 60, forms the oppositeboundary of an area 62 which is coated with adhesive and which is foldedover at the score line 60 to form one ply of the reinforced marginalportion of the panel 40. The area a to the right of the score line 61designates that part of the blank which will form the leaf 50. Incisions25a and 26a define the opposite edges of the brace 43 and the inneredges of the struts 42 and 42x respectively. The character 43bdesignates the hinge between the brace 43 and the leaf 50, while thehinges between the leaf 50 and the two struts 42 are shown at 42b. Attheir opposite ends the struts are hinged at 42a to the plate 41, whilea hinge 43a joins the opposite end of the brace 43 to the plate 41. Thehinges 43a and 43b which unite the opposite ends of the brace 43 to theplate 41 and leaf 50 respectively, are offset from the hinges 42b and43b which unite the opposite ends of the struts 42 and 42a to the plate41 and leaf 50 in the same way as those which unite the brace and strutsto the plate and panel of the device of FIG. 1.

This blank is folded along the score line to bring the adhesively-coatedarea 62 into contact with the panel 40, thus providing the panel 40 withits reinforce ply 52.

In FIG. 9 the hinges 42b which unite the struts 42 and 42a to the leaf50 are shown as resting upon a horizontal surface H on which the edge14x of the panel also rests, while the hinge at 43b where the brace 43is joined to the leaf 50 is above the horizontal surface. When thedevice is thus set up, the parts remain in the position shown withoutthe assistance of fastening means while sustaining a substantial loadresting upon the panel.

When not in use, the device may be folded as shown, for example, in FIG.13, so that the panel 40 and plate 41 lie in the same plane, oralternatively, for example, as shown in FIG. 13a so that the plate 41 isinterposed between the leaf 50 and the panel 40.

In FIG. 10 another arrangement of the device of FIG. 9 is shown, whereinthe panel 40 is shown as horizontal, while the leaf 50 is inclinedupwardly toward the hinge 42b at which the leaf 50 is joined to thestrut 42, while the plate 41 rests upon the upper surface of the paneland the margin of the panel, adjacent to its edge 14x, rests upon thehorizontal support H. This arrangement may have certain advantages, forexample the lower marginal portion 50m of the leaf is substantiallyhorizontal and thus provides a support for the lower edge of a card orthe like, resting upon the upper surface of the leaf 50, in inclinedposition.

In FIG. 11 the device of FIG. 9 is shown as set up with the plate 41arranged to provide an extended base, while the panel 40 is supportedthroughout substantially its entire extent by the underlying leaf 50.

It will be evident that when a support, such as here disclosed, is setup for use, the part with which the calendar pad contacts is disposed ininclined position and in each instance the struts and brace are disposedin inclined intersecting planes. As shown, for example, in

FIG. 6, the brace 13 is substantially perpendicular to the part whichsupports the calendar pad, while in FIG. 9 both struts 42 areperpendicular to the part which supports the pad, so that in eitherarrangement the struts and brace collectively constitute a supportingleg which is effective to sustain the panel in the operative, inclinedposition without the assistance of any fasteners or the like forpreventing the collapse of the support in response to the load imposedby the calendar pad.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3a, the latter showing the device folded, itmay be set up for use by swinging the edges X and N away from eachother. In so doing, the free edge Y of the plate 11 begins to traveltoward the edge X, in frictional contact with the rear face of the panel10. This places the brace 13 under increasing tension until the plateapproaches a position of perpendicularity relatively to the panel,accompanied by increasing friction force between the plate and paneluntil, as the angle between the plate and panel approaches 90, therelative angularity of the brace and struts becomes such that the platesuddenly moves beyond the 90 position, with a distinct snap action, thiswill be the normal position of the parts when the device is set up foruse. It will be apparent that in folding the device, the edge X of theplate must be moved back through the position of perpendicularityrelatively to the panel and thus the brace is again placed under tensionstress while substantial friction develops between the edge of the plateand the panel. As the edge of the plate is moved toward the lower edgeof the panel and approaches a position of parallelism relatively to thepanel, the relative angularity of brace and struts becomes such that thepressure between the edge of the plate and panel suddenly decreases andthe parts move, with a snap action, back to the folded position of FIG.3a.

It is obvious that sheet material of other types than that hereinspecifically referred to and which is suitable for the purpose may besubstituted for that herein mentioned and illustrated.

While certain desirable embodiments of the invention have herein beenillustrated and described by way of example, it is to be understood thatthe invention is broadly inclusive of any and all modifications fallingwithin the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A foldable support designed, for example, to hold a calendar pad inan inclined position, said support comprising a plurality of relativelymovable parts, each of stiff sheet material, one of said parts being apanel which, when the support is set up, provides a flat surface forcontact with the calendar pad, the lower edge of said part, when thedevice is set up for use, being substantially horizontal and designed torest upon a flat horizontal surface, and another of said parts being aplate which, when the support is set up according to one optionalarrangement, contacts the rear surface of the panel, and elements soconnecting said parts as to define hinge axes about which said parts mayswing in setting the device up for use, said connecting elementscomprising at least one strut and at least one brace which, until thedevice is set up for use, may lie in the same plane, the panelpresenting a smooth, flat surface which is substantially uninterruptedthroughout its entire extent and constituting a support for a calendarpad or the like, each brace and strut being hingedly connected at itsopposite ends respectively, to two, respectively, of said parts, one, atleast of which, is said plate, the hinge axes at the ends of the braceand strut being parallel and horizontal when the device is set up foruse but those at the respective ends .of the brace being offset, in thesame direction, from those at the corresponding ends of the strutwhereby, when the device is set up for use, the brace and strut lie inintersecting planes so that, without other retaining means, the supportwill maintain its operative position indefinitely while sustaining aload applied to the panel.

2. A foldable support according to claim 1, wherein the panel and plateand all of the connecting elements are of stiff sheet material while thehinges are of flexible material.

3. A foldable support according to claim 1, wherein the panel, plate andall of the connecting elements are portions of a unitary blankcomprising a core of stiff cardboard having at least one adhering ply.of relatively thin and flexible material which forms the hinges atwhich the connecting elements are attached to the panel and plate.

4. A foldable support according to claim 1, further characterized inthat the several connecting elements are so constructed and arrangedthat the plate may be disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular tothat of the inclined panel with its free edge contacting the panel sothat the plate constitutes, in effect, a supporting leg for the panel.

5. A foldable support according to claim 1, further characterized inthat the several connecting elements are so constructed and arrangedthat the plate may be disposed in a horizontal plane to constitute abase of substantial area while the panel inclines upwardly with itsupper portion above the base and the connecting elements extendingupwardly from the base to the upper portion of the panel so ascollectively to provide a leg for the panel.

6. A foldable support for a calendar pad or the like, comprising a rigidpanel to which a calendar pad may be secured and having an edge designedto rest upon a fiat horizontal surface, and a rigid plate also designedto rest upon said surface, and means permanently connecting the paneland plate comprising a rigid elongate strut and a rigid elongate brace,hinges permanently and pivotally connecting the opposite ends of thebrace to the panel and plate respectively, and hinges permanently andpivotally connecting the opposite ends of the strut to the panel andplate respectively, the axes of all of said hinges being parallel, andbeing substantially horizontal when the device is set up for use, butthe axes of the hinges which connect the brace to the panel and platebeing offset from the axes of the hinges which connect the strut to thepanel and plate, the locations of the hinge axes and the lengths of thestrut and brace being such that when the support is set up for use, withthe aforesaid edge of the panel and with the plate both resting upon ahorizontal surface and with the panel inclined upwardly from said edgeand with the upper edge of the plate contacting the panel, the partswill remain in such relative positions indefinitely without theassistance of any additional retaining means and while subjected to aload imposed by an object resting upon the sloping panel.

7. A foldable support according to claim 1, and wherein all of theconnecting elements are of substantially the same length, and so devisedthat when the support is set up for use with the panel disposed in aninclined plane and with its lower edge resting upon a horizontal surfaceand with the plate disposed in a plane parallel to the panel andcontacting the latter, the parts will remain in such relative positionsindefinitely without the assistance of any additional retaining meansand while subjected to the load imposed by an object resting against thesloping panel.

.8. A foldable support according to claim 1, further characterized inhaving reinforcing means for those marginal portions of the panel andplate which, when the device is set up for use, may rest upon asupporting",

surface.

9. A foldable support for a calendar pad or the like, comprising a rigidpanel, having spaced parallel edges, which, when the device is in use,lies in an inclined plane with one edge resting upon a supportingsurface, said support also comprising a rigid leaf hingedly connected tothe panel to swing about an axis parallel to and adjacent one of saidedges, and a rigid plate connected to said leaf by rigid connectingelements attached by hinges at their V opposite ends to the leaf andplate respectively, the axes of all of the hinges being parallel andhorizontal when the device is set up for use, the axes of the hingeswhich unite certain of the connecting elements to the leaf and platebeing so located, relatively to the axes of the hinges which unite acertain other of said connecting elements to the leaf and plate thatwhen the support is set up for use, with one of said edges of theinclined panel resting upon a horizontal surface and with substantiallythe entire area of the plate contacting the rear face of the panel, theparts will remain in these relative positions indefinitely without theassistance of any additional retaining means and while subjected to theload imposed by an object resting against the sloping panel.

10. A foldable support according to claim 9, wherein the leaf is ofsheet material and hingedly connected to the panel to swing about anaxis parallel to and adjacent an edge of the panel, said leaf being of awidth, measured along a line perpendicular to the hinge axis,approximating that of the panel itself and the plate being ofsubstantially less width, in the same direction, than said leaf.

11. A foldable support for a calendar pad or the like, comprising arigid panel and a rigid plate, the support being so designed that, whenfolded, the panel and plate may lie in the same plane, and meanspermanently connecting the panel and plate comprising rigid elongate,connecting elements united by hinges at their opposite ends to the plateand to a rigid part attached to the panel respectively, the axes of allof the hinges being parallel and horizontal when the device is set upfor use, and the axes of those spaced hinges which unite a certainconnecting element to the panel and to said rigid part, respectively,being so located, relatively to the axes of those spaced hinges whichunite a certain other of said connecting elements to the plate and saidrigid part, respectively, that when the support is set up for use, withthe panel disposed in an inclined plane and with the lower edge of thepanel resting upon a horizontal surface and with the plate so contactingthe panel as to define a dihedral angle whose apex line is horizontal,the parts will remain in these relative positions indefinitely withoutthe assistance of any additional retaining means and while the supportis subjected to the load imposed by an object resting against the panel.

12. A foldable support for holding a calendar pad or the like and whichcomprises a rigid plate and a rigid panel which, when the device is setup for use, presents an inclined face for contact with the calendar pad,the support also comprising a flat, rigid member, of an areaapproximating that of the panel, and hinge means defining an axisparallel to a transverse edge of the panel uniting said member andpanel, and means connecting said member to the plate comprising a rigidstrut and a rigid brace, each of sheet material and which, until thesupport is set up for use, may lie in the same plane, but which, whenthe support is set up for use, are disposed, respectively, inintersecting planes, and wherein the strut and brace, when so disposed,collectively constitute a leg operative, without the aid of fastenerelements, to sustain the panel in operative position.

13. A foldable support for a calendar pad or the like, comprising arigid panel and a rigid plate, the support being so designed that untilthe support is set up for use the panel and plate may be in the sameplane, rigid fiat connecting elements, attached by hinges, at theiropposite ends to the panel and plate respectively, the axes of all ofthe hinges being parallel, and horizontal when the device is set up foruse, the axes of the hinges which unite certain of the connectingelements to the panel and plate being so located, relatively to the axesof the hinges which unite certain other of said connecting elements tothe panel and plate, that when the support is set up for use, with thepanel and plate relatively positioned to lie in intersecting planes, theplane of the panel sloping upwardly, they will remain in that relativeposition indefinitely without the assistance of any additional retainingmeans and while subjected to the load imposed by an object restingagainst the sloping panel, the combined Widths of the several connectingelements being substantially equal to the transverse width of the panel.

14. A foldable support for a calendar pad or the like, comprising arigid panel and a rigid plate, the support being so designed that untilthe support is set up for use, the panel and plate may lie in the sameplane, rigid connecting elements, attached by hinges, at their oppositeends to the panel and plate respectively, the axes of all of the hingesbeing parallel and horizontal when the device is set up for use, theaxes of the hinges which unite certain of the connecting elements to thepanel and plate being so located, relatively to the axes of the hingeswhich unite certain other .of said connecting elements to the panel andplate, that when the support is set up for use with the panel disposedin an inclined plane and with its lower edge resting upon a horizontalsurface and with the plate disposed in a plane which intersects that ofthe panel and with the plate contacting the panel, the parts will remainin these relative positions indefinitely without the assistance of anyadditional retaining means and while subjecting it to the load imposedby an object resting against the sloping panel, the outer edges of theoutermost connecting elements being in the same vertical planes as thelateral edges, respectively, of the panel.

15. A foldable support according to claim 14, further characterized inthat the panel and plate are of stiff sheet material and the connectingelements are likewise of stilt sheet material, the axis of the hingewhich connects a brace to the panel being further removed from the edgeof the panel which is designed to rest upon said horizontal surface thanis the axis of the hinge which connects a strut to the panel, and thehinge axis of a brace, at which it it connected to the plate, is solocated that when the panel and plate are in contact, said brace slopesdownwardly from the panel toward the plate, the axis of the hinge atwhich said strut is connected to the panel is in a horizontal planebelow .that of the axis of the hinge which connects the brace to thepanel, and the strut slopes upwardly toward the hinge which connects itto the plate, the lateral edges of adjacent connecting elements beingsubstantially in contact before the device is set up for use.

16. A foldable support according to claim 13, wherein a single brace isinterposed between two struts and the struts and brace constitute theonly connection between the panel and plate.

17. A foldable support designed, for example, to hold a calendar pad inan inclined position, said support comprising a plurality of relativelymovable parts, each of stiff sheet material, one of said parts, when thesupport is set up, providing for contact with the calendar pad, thesupport also including connecting elements comprising a rigid strut anda rigid brace each of sheet material, the strut having parallel hingesat its opposite ends, respectively, connecting it to two others of saidparts and the brace having parallel hinges connecting its opposite endsrespectively, to the same two parts, the axis of the hinge at one end ofthe brace being located between the axes of the hinges at opposite endsof the strut, the brace and hinge, when the support is set up for use,being disposed in intersecting planes and collectively constituting aleg operative, without the aid of fastener elements, to sustain thepanel in operative position.

18. A foldable support for holding a calendar pad or the like and whichcomprises relatively movable, substantially rigid sheet-material parts,one of which, when the support is set up for use, presents a smooth,flat surface substantially uninterrupted throughout the entire area ofsaid part for contact with the calendar pad, connecting elements unitingsaid parts comprising a rigid strut and a rigid brace which, until thedevice is set up for use, may

lie in the same plane but which, when the support is set up for use, aredisposed, respectively, in intersecting, inclined planes, and hingesconnecting the opposite ends of .the strut and the opposite ends of thebrace to the respective parts which are connected by the strut andbrace, the axes of all of the hinges being parallel, and substantiallyhorizontal when the support is set up for use, but with the hinge axes,at the opposite ends of the brace, displaced, in the same direction,from the hinges at the opposite ends of the struts whereby, when thesupport is set up for use, it maintains its set-up condition without theaid of fastening devices, the combined widths of the several connectingelements being substantially equal to the transverse Width of the partwhich supports .the calendar pad.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 588,636 8/97Engstrom 248465 2,252,571 8/41 Kohn 24s 459 2,611,572 9/52 LaRocca 40124.1 3,033,501 5/62 Nichols 40-120 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

1. A FOLDABLE SUPPORT DESIGNED, FOR EXAMPLE, TO HOLD A CALENDAR PAD INAN INCLINED POSITION, SAID SUPPORT COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF RELATIVELYMOVABLY PARTS, EACH OF STIFF SHEET MATERIAL, ONE OF SAID PARTS BEING APANEL WHICH, WHEN THE SUPPORT IS SET UP, PROVIDES A FLAT SURFACE FORCONTACT WITH THE CALENDAR PAD, THE LOWER EDGE OF SAID PART, WHEN THEDEVICE IS SET UP FOR USE, BEING SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL AND DESIGNED TOREST UPON A FLAT HORIZONTAL SURFACE, AND ANOTHER OF SAID PARTS BEING APLATE WHICH, WHEN THE SUPPORT IS SET UP ACCORDING TO ONE OPTIONALARRANGEMENT, CONTACTS THE REAR SURFACE OF THE PANEL, AND ELEMENTS SOCONNECTING SAID PARTS AS TO DEFINE HINGE AXES ABOUT WHICH SAID PARTS MAYSWING IN SETTING THE DEVICE UP FOR USE, SAID CONNECTING ELEMENTSCOMPRISING AT LEAST ONE STRUT AND AT LEAST ONE BRACE WHICH, UNTIL THEDEVICE IS SET UP FOR USE, MAY LIE IN THE SAME PLANE, THE PANELPRESENTING A SMOOTH, FLAT SURFACE WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY UNINTERRUPTEDTHROUGHOUT ITS ENTIRE EXTENT AND CONSTITUTING A SUPPORT FOR A CALENDARPAD OR THE LIKE, EACH BRACE AND STRUT BEING HINGEDLY CONNECTED AT ITSOPPOSITE ENDS RESPECTIVELY, TO TWO, RESPECTIVELY, OF SAID PARTS, ONE, ATLEAST OF WHICH, IS SAID PLATE, THE HINGE AXES AT THE ENDS OF THE BRACEAND STRUT BEING PARALLEL AND HORIZONTAL WHEN THE DEVICE IS SET UP FORUSE BUT THOSE AT THE RESPECTIVE ENDS OF THE BRACE BEING OFFSET, IN THESAME DIRECTION, FROM THOSE AT THE CORRESPONDING ENDS OF THE STRUTWHEREBY, WHEN THE DEVICE IS SET UP FOR USE, THE BRACE AND STRUT LIE ININTERSECTING PLANES SO THAT, WITHOUT OTHER RETAINING MEANS, THE SUPPORTWILL MAINTAIN ITS OPERATIVE POSITION INDEFINITELY WHILE SUSTAINING ALOAD APPLIED TO THE PANEL.